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Ex-Div Reminder for John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (BTO)

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/9/14, John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.2961, payable on 12/31/14. As a percentage of BTO's recent stock price of $23.45, this dividend works out to approximately 1.26%, so look for shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund to trade 1.26% lower — all else being equal — when BTO shares open for trading on 12/9/14.

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 12/9/14, John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund ( BTO) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.2961, payable on 12/31/14. As a percentage of BTO's recent stock price of $23.45, this dividend works out to approximately 1.26%, so look for shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund to trade 1.26% lower — all else being equal — when BTO shares open for trading on 12/9/14.

Below is a dividend history chart for BTO, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent $0.2961 declared by John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund:

In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from BTO is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 5.05% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of BTO shares, versus its 200 day moving average:

Looking at the chart above, BTO's low point in its 52 week range is $20.18 per share, with $24.44 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $23.44.

According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, BTO makes up 1.34% of the PowerShares Global Gold and Precious Metals Portfolio ETF ( PSAU) which is trading lower by about 2.5% on the day Friday.

In Friday trading, John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund shares are currently up about 1.1% on the day.

In trading on Monday, shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund crossed below their 200 day moving average of $22.82, changing hands as low as $22.47 per share. John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund shares are currently trading down about 4.3% on the day.

In trading on Monday, shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund crossed below their last reported book value — defined as common shareholder equity per share — of $23.01, changing hands as low as $22.87 per share. John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund shares are currently trading off about 3% on the day.